Association between psychological distress and unmet information needs among female cancer patients in two selected teaching hospitals in South-West Nigeria
Background: Cancer-related information is a major need among cancer patients. Existing data indicate that cancer patients who are anxious or depressed have poorer treatment outcomes. Aim: The aim of this study is to assess the association between psychological distress and unmet information needs am...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
2018-01-01
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| Series: | CHRISMED Journal of Health and Research |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.cjhr.org/article.asp?issn=2348-3334;year=2018;volume=5;issue=1;spage=11;epage=17;aulast=Ojewole |
| _version_ | 1828365334342533120 |
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| author | Foluso O Ojewole Amarachi Marie Madu Chinomso Ugochukwu Nwozichi |
| author_facet | Foluso O Ojewole Amarachi Marie Madu Chinomso Ugochukwu Nwozichi |
| author_sort | Foluso O Ojewole |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Cancer-related information is a major need among cancer patients. Existing data indicate that cancer patients who are anxious or depressed have poorer treatment outcomes. Aim: The aim of this study is to assess the association between psychological distress and unmet information needs among female cancer patients in two teaching hospitals in Southwest Nigeria. Materials and Methods: Using a descriptive-correlational design, 244 females in the oncology units of two selected Nigerian teaching hospitals were purposively selected to complete a modified psychological distress scale and a self-developed information need questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics P value set at 0.05. Results: Majority (76%) of the patients were psychologically distressed, 71.3% of the participants wanted specific information on their cancer disease. There is a correlation between cancer patients' level of psychological distress and their unmet information needs (P = 0.027; r = −0.142) and a correlation between cancer patients' information needs and duration of their illness (P = 0.034; r = −0.135). Conclusion: Cancer patients experience psychological distress to some extent. Furthermore, they are interested in finding out information about their cancer disease. Every unmet information needs impact on the psychological distress experienced by patients. It is, therefore, recommended that nurses and other healthcare professionals should endeavor to assess the specific information needs to provide required information and ease their psychological distress. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-14T05:28:42Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e596659bc9334ebb94123bd2faf0b02f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2348-3334 2348-506X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-14T05:28:42Z |
| publishDate | 2018-01-01 |
| publisher | Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | CHRISMED Journal of Health and Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-e596659bc9334ebb94123bd2faf0b02f2022-12-22T02:09:53ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsCHRISMED Journal of Health and Research2348-33342348-506X2018-01-0151111710.4103/cjhr.cjhr_62_17Association between psychological distress and unmet information needs among female cancer patients in two selected teaching hospitals in South-West NigeriaFoluso O OjewoleAmarachi Marie MaduChinomso Ugochukwu NwozichiBackground: Cancer-related information is a major need among cancer patients. Existing data indicate that cancer patients who are anxious or depressed have poorer treatment outcomes. Aim: The aim of this study is to assess the association between psychological distress and unmet information needs among female cancer patients in two teaching hospitals in Southwest Nigeria. Materials and Methods: Using a descriptive-correlational design, 244 females in the oncology units of two selected Nigerian teaching hospitals were purposively selected to complete a modified psychological distress scale and a self-developed information need questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics P value set at 0.05. Results: Majority (76%) of the patients were psychologically distressed, 71.3% of the participants wanted specific information on their cancer disease. There is a correlation between cancer patients' level of psychological distress and their unmet information needs (P = 0.027; r = −0.142) and a correlation between cancer patients' information needs and duration of their illness (P = 0.034; r = −0.135). Conclusion: Cancer patients experience psychological distress to some extent. Furthermore, they are interested in finding out information about their cancer disease. Every unmet information needs impact on the psychological distress experienced by patients. It is, therefore, recommended that nurses and other healthcare professionals should endeavor to assess the specific information needs to provide required information and ease their psychological distress.http://www.cjhr.org/article.asp?issn=2348-3334;year=2018;volume=5;issue=1;spage=11;epage=17;aulast=OjewoleAssociationcancer patientspsychological distressunmet information needs |
| spellingShingle | Foluso O Ojewole Amarachi Marie Madu Chinomso Ugochukwu Nwozichi Association between psychological distress and unmet information needs among female cancer patients in two selected teaching hospitals in South-West Nigeria CHRISMED Journal of Health and Research Association cancer patients psychological distress unmet information needs |
| title | Association between psychological distress and unmet information needs among female cancer patients in two selected teaching hospitals in South-West Nigeria |
| title_full | Association between psychological distress and unmet information needs among female cancer patients in two selected teaching hospitals in South-West Nigeria |
| title_fullStr | Association between psychological distress and unmet information needs among female cancer patients in two selected teaching hospitals in South-West Nigeria |
| title_full_unstemmed | Association between psychological distress and unmet information needs among female cancer patients in two selected teaching hospitals in South-West Nigeria |
| title_short | Association between psychological distress and unmet information needs among female cancer patients in two selected teaching hospitals in South-West Nigeria |
| title_sort | association between psychological distress and unmet information needs among female cancer patients in two selected teaching hospitals in south west nigeria |
| topic | Association cancer patients psychological distress unmet information needs |
| url | http://www.cjhr.org/article.asp?issn=2348-3334;year=2018;volume=5;issue=1;spage=11;epage=17;aulast=Ojewole |
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